"We have some conflicts between us."
Liu Qing didn't waste words. His gaze locked onto Xiao Yan, and a faint, excited smile curled at the corner of his lips.
Xiao Yan slightly shook his head at the sight. There was something off about Liu Qing's expression—it wasn't the awkwardness or hesitation he had expected. Rather, it was filled with anticipation and a faint trace of excitement. This was not the look of someone caught between obligation and trouble.
No… it was the kind of look Xiao Yan had seen before—on those who lived for battle, those who sought out strong opponents to test their strength.
'So that's how it is… he's using the conflict between me and Liu Fei as an excuse just to gauge my capabilities,' Xiao Yan thought with a helpless sigh, clearly seeing through Liu Qing's intent.
After all, Liu Qing greatly admired and respected Xiao Hua. It wasn't surprising that he wished to personally test the strength of the one who had earned Xiao Hua's attention—a rare occurrence in itself.
'Isn't it a common trope for trouble to arise because of a beauty? Yet this time, I find myself troubled not because of a woman—but because someone simply wishes to measure the strength of the man who caught the attention of someone he admires…' Xiao Yan sighed inwardly, a trace of helplessness and exasperation rising in his heart.
Only now did he fully grasp why Bai Cheng hadn't made a move and had instead sent Bai Shan to provoke Wu Hao. Clearly, Liu Qing had not permitted him to act—choosing to wait until Xiao Yan returned.
'Even so, Liu Qing didn't ignore Liu Fei's complaint either… Seems like he's the kind to stand up for those he cares about, while also seeking strong opponents. Two birds with one stone, huh…' Xiao Yan's gaze narrowed slightly as it shifted toward a few figures outside of the arena.
At that moment, he didn't bother offering excuses. Without a word, the Dou Qi within his body began to circulate, silently flowing along his Qi Paths—preparing him for any sudden clash.
"Cousin."
Just then, a few figures leapt down from the viewing gallery while Liu Qing was still exchanging words with Xiao Yan. At the front was a striking young woman who greeted Liu Qing with a cheerful voice before gracefully standing behind him.
However, the glance she cast at Xiao Yan carried a faint air of arrogance, as though declaring her presence and involvement with subtle pride.
"What are you being smug about, Liu Fei? Everyone in the Inner Academy knows what happened back then. Xiao Yan did nothing wrong. Don't think you can strut around with arrogance just because your strength is decent."
As the tension in the arena rose, a crisp voice echoed out. A graceful figure with long, elegant legs stepped into view, her expression slightly irritated yet composed. It was none other than Xiao Yu.
"If you, Liu Qing, truly intend to stand up for someone without discerning right from wrong, then I, Xiao Yu, will personally accept your challenge."
Liu Fei's expression darkened the moment she saw Xiao Yu standing beside Xiao Yan casually.
"Xiao Yu… why are you interfering in this?" Liu Fei asked coldly, unable to hide the displeasure in her tone.
"Just as Liu Qing steps in because he's your elder cousin, I'm stepping in because I'm Xiao Yan's elder cousin. Or do you think you're the only one allowed to rely on family ties?" Xiao Yu responded with a cold snort and a faint, mocking smile. The disdain in her gaze toward Liu Fei was impossible to miss.
Liu Fei gritted her teeth, seething in frustration. She knew Xiao Yu's strength far too well. After being personally guided by Elder Xiao Hua, Xiao Yu's strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Though Xiao Yu rarely challenged others on the Strong Ranking, and her name wasn't commonly mentioned, her strength remained one of the most mysterious. According to Liu Qing himself, Xiao Yu was easily capable of contending with the top three. Even he would have to fight seriously against her, without holding back.
If her cousin has praised her strength, it is clear that she will not be able to suppress Xiao Yan and repaid her grievance.
"Rest assured, Xiao Yu. I did not come here to bully your cousin," Liu Qing said calmly, shaking his head slightly. "Besides, he's already proven himself—his strength is not to be underestimated. Even I would likely have some difficulty defeating him."
"As I thought… you're here to gauge Xiao Yan's strength, aren't you?" Xiao Yu sighed softly, her voice carrying a trace of resignation.
"I intended to address Liu Fei's grievance, but only during the upcoming Strong Ranking Competition," Liu Qing replied. "For now, I simply wished to witness the strength of the man who managed to catch Elder Xiao Hua's eye."
"Then why did senior take such a roundabout path to do it?" Xiao Yan raised a brow, clearly puzzled by Liu Qing's indirect approach.
"It wasn't my intention," Liu Qing explained, shaking his head with a faint sigh. "This was all arranged by Yao Sheng. I had already warned him not to meddle, but it seems he couldn't help himself. In the end, I had to interrupt my own training and come here to handle the mess."
"He was the one who visited Bai Cheng and encouraged him to stir up trouble for you—assuring him that he would have his backing."
"Yao Sheng?" Xiao Yan's brows furrowed in confusion. He murmured, "I don't recall ever offending anyone by that name…"
"Yao Sheng is ranked seventeenth on the Strong Ranking," Xiao Yu leaned in slightly and whispered to Xiao Yan. "He's part of Lin Qing's faction and apparently harbors feelings for Liu Fei. If you happen to cross paths with him later, don't be fooled by his strange, sissy-like appearance. —he's quite strong."
Xiao Yan immediately understood the cause behind today's disturbance. So, it was this Yao Sheng who had stirred the pot behind the scenes. He didn't even bother to look for him among the group behind Liu Qing; based on Xiao Yu's words, it was clear the man hadn't shown himself.
'In the end, trouble caused by beauty is still a recurring theme…' Xiao Yan smiled helplessly to himself, realizing this whole event had been driven by a man's infatuation.
"Ke ke, it's quite lively today. First a fierce fight, and now even Xiao Yu's rare display of fire. What a rare sight indeed."
Just as Xiao Yan was deep in thought, a faint chuckle echoed through the arena. A few human figures flickered and landed gracefully within the battleground.
"Lin Xiuya? Yan Hao? Even Han Yue? What wind has blown over the Fighting Arena today? Even these reclusive fellows who usually spend all their time in secluded training have shown up together?"
A murmur of surprise rippled through the viewing gallery as countless gazes turned toward the newcomers. Their presence had stirred quite a commotion.
Xiao Yan was also slightly startled upon seeing Lin Xiuya and the others appear. His gaze swept over the group and soon landed on a familiar figure—Han Yue. With a respectful tone, he cupped his fists and greeted her.
However, it was Xiao Yan who found himself surprised upon hearing the name of the one leading the group. To think that the calm and composed young man before him was actually Lin Xiuya—the number one on the Strong Ranking. He had not expected today's minor conflict to escalate to the point of drawing the attention of such a figure, nor that he would encounter him under such circumstances.
Unlike the original version of events, Xiao Yan had never met Lin Xiuya or Yan Hao before. The incident involving the Quenching Body Core Milk had and Snow Demon Sky Ape never occurred, as Han Yue had not reported its presence.
As a result, the roar of the Snow Demon Sky Ape never echoed through the mountains, and Xiao Yan's path never crossed theirs.
Furthermore, Lin Xiuya had been wholly focused on cultivating the Di Class Dou Technique that Xiao Hua had personally bestowed upon him. At the time, he had no interest in anything else and did not waste time searching for rare treasures unless directly informed. For this reason, fate had not yet arranged a meeting between the two—until now.
Today marked the first time Xiao Yan and Lin Xiuya would stand face to face.
"Though you may have already heard of them, I will still make the introductions," Xiao Yu stepped forward and spoke calmly. "This is Senior Lin Xiuya, ranked first on the Strong Ranking. And beside him is Senior Yan Hao, currently ranked seventh."
"I've long heard of Senior Lin Xiuya's strength and elusive movement techniques, as well as Senior Yan Hao's domineering might. Now that I've met the two of you in person, it seems the rumors have not been exaggerated."
Xiao Yan cupped his hands respectfully toward the two seniors.
"Ke ke, no need to be so formal with me," Yan Hao chuckled heartily. "Compared to your cousin—ranked fifth—and Han Yue, who holds third place, I'm nothing more than a background figure."
"I have heard much about you from Elder Xiao Hua," Lin Xiuya said with a faint smile, cupping his fists in a refined and composed manner. "He has mentioned you more than once, which naturally piqued my curiosity about Junior Xiao Yan's strength."
Lin Xiuya nodded again, eyes lingering on Xiao Yan with quiet depth. There was a faint trace of danger about this youth—something hidden beneath the surface. Even during the earlier clash with Bai Cheng, it was clear that Xiao Yan had not fully revealed his hand.
This observation brought a trace of satisfaction to Lin Xiuya's heart. Though he rarely expressed it openly, he held a deep respect for Elder Xiao Hua. Knowing that Xiao Hua had spoken so highly of Xiao Yan, he had naturally wished to see for himself what kind of talent could earn such praise.
"Liu Qing, Xiao Yan has already proven his capability. It's time you reined in that spoiled little cousin of yours," Yan Hao said with a faint smile, his tone casual yet pointed as he spoke the heart of the matter.
"You need not worry, Yan Hao," Liu Qing replied calmly. "What I've seen today has already satisfied my curiosity. I have no reason to escalate things further."
"Now that he has defeated Bai Cheng, Xiao Yan has officially entered the Strong Ranking. That makes him qualified to participate in the Grand Competition one month from now. When the time comes, there will naturally be an opportunity for us to exchange blows."
After a brief pause, Liu Qing lifted his head and looked at Xiao Yan as he continued, "As I've said, my presence here today was merely to ensure Yao Sheng's actions did not spiral out of control, and to witness for myself the strength that caught Elder Xiao Hua's attention. I have no intention of stirring up unnecessary trouble."
"However, Fei-er was publicly humiliated. That cannot be overlooked entirely. During the Grand Competition, show your strength. I will respond in kind. Win or lose, once that battle is over, Fei-er will no longer trouble you."
These words were clearly a declaration of challenge. In an instant, countless gazes within the Fighting Arena turned toward Xiao Yan. To receive a challenge from Liu Qing—second on the Strong Ranking—was in itself a mark of recognition.
Xiao Yan let out a soft laugh under the weight of countless gazes. He cupped his hands slightly, his voice calm and unwavering, devoid of the slightest trace of fear. His composed boldness caused many onlookers to nod quietly in approval.
"I will naturally accept your challenge when the time comes."
…
In the spacious hall, Xiao Yan reclined lazily in a large chair, his posture relaxed as he listened to the report being delivered by a young man standing before him. Every so often, he would stretch his arms and let out a broad yawn. His carefree demeanor made the young man smile helplessly.
"Atai, where are Wu Hao and Hu Jia?" Xiao Yan asked as he rubbed his chin, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "Weren't they usually the ones who give me updates on Pan's Gate?"
"Hu Jia and Wu Hao are currently in secluded cultivation. They've sensed the barrier to Dou Ling loosening and are seizing the opportunity to break through," Atai reported earnestly.
Xiao Yan's eyes widened in surprise before he crossed his arms and nodded with a faint smile. Hu Jia and Wu Hao had always possessed outstanding talent. If not for the aid of Xiao Hua's abundant resources and Yao Lao's personal guidance, even he would have found it difficult to surpass them.
Of course, Xiao Yan had never been stingy. He had shared cultivation resources suited to their individual strengths without hesitation. In his eyes, their current progress was a natural result of steady growth.
"In any case, I'm glad the outside world has quieted down for now," Xiao Yan said with a wry smile as he raised the teacup beside him and took a light sip. "These past two days have been far too noisy… to the point it was almost frightening."
"Heh heh, compared to yesterday, there are even more people lining up to challenge you now," Atai chuckled, clearly amused. "If Boss Xiao Yan dares to step out of Pan's Gate, I fear seven or eight challengers will immediately pounce on you."
Xiao Yan could only shake his head helplessly. He hadn't expected that simply ascending to the 'Strong Ranking' would bring such a wave of trouble. In his eyes, Lin Xiuya and the others always carried themselves with calm composure, appearing unaffected by daily affairs. They certainly didn't seem like individuals who were constantly hounded by challenge letters as he was.
Even Xiao Yu, ranked fifth on the Strong Ranking, remained serene and unbothered. Despite her high position, she appeared untouched by the relentless wave of challengers that now besieged him.
A bitter complaint stirred in Xiao Yan's heart, and a trace of mental fatigue surfaced. Yet he had clearly overlooked one important point—just how many within the Inner Academy actually dared to challenge monsters like Lin Xiuya or Xiao Yu?
Compared to those unshakable giants, the treatment he received was... rather unique and pitiful among the Strong Ranking.
According to the rules of the Inner Academy, anyone who managed to defeat a ranked expert could claim their place. Bai Cheng had previously held the thirty-fourth position. Now that Xiao Yan had defeated him, he had officially entered the Strong Ranking and inherited that title—along with all the trouble that came with it.
Unlike others on the Strong Ranking, Xiao Yan had never revealed the full extent of his strength. As a result, most of the academy remained unaware that he was already a nine-star Dou Ling capable of contending with even a Dou Huang.
Naturally, individuals like Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, Han Yue, and Xiao Yu had seen through some of it—but the rest could only remain ignorant.
It wasn't that he deliberately wished to conceal his strength. He simply saw no need to unleash his full power and potentially harm his fellow students. If he truly had the motivation, he could display his might openly, but for now, there was no such urgency.
"Ah… at times like this, I wish the days would pass faster." Xiao Yan leaned back lazily in his chair, gazing toward the ceiling as boredom seeped into his voice. "I wonder when the Grand Competition will finally begin…"
Bang—
As his voice faded, the tightly shut front doors were suddenly pushed open. A familiar, hearty laugh rang through the hall, shattering the quiet.
"Ha ha! Xiao Yan, it's truly unexpected! To think you actually defeated Bai Cheng and even come into conflict with Liu Qing? That news nearly made me fall off the training platform when I heard it at the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower!"
The one who strode in laughing was none other than Lin Yan—the very person whom Xiao Yan had once helped resolve the torment of his fire poison.
Xiao Yan was briefly startled by the sudden burst of laughter, but his expression quickly lit up with surprise and joy. He lifted his head and saw Lin Yan entering with a broad smile on his face.
"So it's Senior Lin Yan. How have you been? Has the fire poison in your body been completely resolved?" Xiao Yan asked with a smile.
"Thanks to the medicinal liquids you gave me, the fire poison has been almost entirely cleansed," Lin Yan replied, laughing heartily. He slapped Atai's shoulder in a familiar manner before casually finding a seat and sitting down.
Back when Xiao Yan first met him, Lin Yan's eyes had burned with a fiery-red hue, the mark of the poison raging within. Now, that fierce glow was gone, and there was no sign of its return—clear proof that the fire poison had been fully eradicated.
With its removal, Lin Yan's once hot-tempered demeanor had noticeably calmed. An added trace of composed steadiness now rested in his expression. Judging from the restrained yet steady aura he exuded, it was evident that he, too, had reached the peak of Dou Ling—equal in strength to Xiao Yan himself.
"You make it sound like there's an ordinary person among the top ten of the Strong Ranking..." Xiao Yan replied with a faint smile, clearly unfazed.
With the Angry Buddha Lotus Flame—especially when merged with his two Heavenly Flames—even a Dou Zong would be forced to tread carefully. Though he had no intention of using it unless there was nothing but blood between them, he still possessed a number of trump cards capable of giving a Dou Huang expert quite the headache.
Lin Yan, noticing Xiao Yan's composed expression, couldn't help but laugh heartily. "What boldness. It's really hard to see through you, brat. You must be hiding something to be this calm. Looks like I was worrying for nothing."
Xiao Yan merely smiled and did not linger on the topic. Instead, after a moment of thought, he asked, "Senior Lin Yan, do you happen to know when the so-called 'Strong Ranking Grand Competition' will begin?"
"Haha, now that your name is listed on the Strong Ranking, this grand competition naturally concerns you." Lin Yan chuckled and nodded. "If the timing holds, it should begin in about a month. Why? Don't tell me you're already eyeing a spot in the top ten?"
"Brother Xiao Hua once told me he left something within the Inner Academy that will help strengthen me," Xiao Yan said with a light nod and smile. "However, this reward can only be obtained if I manage to enter the top ten during the Grand Competition."
He was naturally referring to the trial Xiao Hua had prepared for him—a path to obtain the Fallen Heart Flame, which was currently sealed within the Inner Academy. This matter had been confirmed by the First Elder himself, who had paid Xiao Yan a sudden visit during one of his training sessions in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
Lin Yan was momentarily stunned upon hearing Xiao Yan's words. Then, as if recalling something, his expression turned slightly odd. He remembered now—Elder Xiao Hua had indeed mentioned this before departing for the Central Plains.
Back then, he had even left behind a casual remark, saying that Lin Yan should give Xiao Yan a difficult time if they were to cross paths during the Grand Competition.
Who would have thought that fate would twist things so drastically? Not only had Lin Yan become friends with Xiao Yan, but he had also received life-saving help from him in expelling the fire poison from his body.
Even so, Lin Yan still intended to uphold his words and give Xiao Yan a proper fight in the competition—though he had a growing suspicion he might be on the losing end.
'First it was Elder Xiao Hua… then Junior Xiao Yu… and now Xiao Yan… Just what kind of monstrous clan is this, exactly…?' he muttered inwardly, wearing a helpless smile.
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